CarPal - Modular Cross-Platform Frontend

**Enforcer** · 05-10-2009, 03:36 PM

It all depends on how you plan on how you plane on incorporating plugins.

So far I have seen 2 (possibly 3 ways)

1. RoadRunner's way, which is basically the most integrated as the Frontend handles the skinning etc and you just pass label, button, indicator and slider information etc and also commands ( Plugins can also interrupt and change commands and label information).

2. Centrafuse's way, in which the plugin handles the skining and can send and receive commands. (it's just above embedding an app)

3. Embedding Apps, Plugin/App handles everything and can't send commands or label information to main program.

**malcom2073** · 05-10-2009, 03:55 PM

Atm the c++ unmanaged plugins are set up to run RR's way. It is possible to write them to operate like CF where they create their own windows, but I feel that the first way is the best. I'll probably continue the same style interface for .NET plugins unless there is a need for more flexibility.

**Enforcer** · 05-10-2009, 04:25 PM

Going RoadRunners way is preferable

**Tidder** · 05-11-2009, 12:37 PM

Yanno with as functional as this frontend is getting... it may be high time you requested your own CarPal area in the frontends section.

**malcom2073** · 05-11-2009, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by Tidder

Yanno with as functional as this frontend is getting... it may be high time you requested your own CarPal area in the frontends section.

We don't need no steenkin subforum!

**Tidder** · 05-12-2009, 11:16 AM

If people are gonna start downloading and using... they'd need, and you'd want, a place that's easy to view/manage to start knocking out bugs. C'mon now.

**malcom2073** · 05-12-2009, 03:52 PM

Psh....

Speaking of bugs, Enforcer: I got .net interop working. I'm just ironing out the specifics of the interface and then I should be able to upload a new version. Basically in VB you would have to add a reference to my InterfaceClass.dll file (which is provided with CarPal). Then you create a class that implements the interface InterfaceClasses.IPlugin.

I'll provide a sample VB.net and C# plugin to give you the idea. Probably have it register to receive an event, perhaps have it register its own event. Possibly even have the ability to play/stop a song based on a skin button press.